MSG Kevin Holland is the only publicly known operator who served in DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6) and Delta Force (1st SFOD-D). Long story short, yes, an individual can serve in MULTIPLE Special Mission Units (i.e., RRC, TFO, 24th STS, NSWDG, and 1st SFOD-D). However, it isn’t peculiar. MSG Kevin Holland is a former BOTH member of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team Six) and the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force). He was initially a DEVGRU operator who turned Army and passed SFQC (Special Forces Qualification Course) and made his way to serve in the elite counter-terrorism unit, Delta Force.
Early life
Kevin Holland grew up in the foothills of North Carolina. He played football and baseball in high school, and shortly after high school, he signed up for the delayed entry program to join the U.S. Navy. Holland started his career in 1988. After that, he completed boot camp and Navy Photographer School and volunteered for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training. He arrived in Coronado, CA, in November 1988.
His BUD/S class started with 80 people, and in July of 1989, 8 students left at graduation. The entire class was assigned to SEAL Team 8. After that, Holland drove to Fort Benning, Georgia, to the U.S. Army Airborne School. He was the youngest in the class of 300. Upon graduation, he reported to SEAL Team 8, Little Creek, Virginia.
SEAL Team 8 and DEVGRU
In 1990, he was deployed to Northern Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Holland was tasked with deep reconnaissance and sniper missions. Upon completing the deployment, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and was sent to Sniper School. He completed Naval Special Warfare Sniper School at Atterbury, Indiana, as an honor graduate and received the top shooter award.
In 1992, Kevin Holland went for screening by the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU, Seal Team 6). This organization recruits the top 1% of all SEALS in the Navy. In the summer of 1992, he left SEAL Team 8 and checked in to DEVGRU. Only three years later, Kevin Holland left the Navy.
Private sector and then Delta Force
From 1995 to 2001, he worked with his dad in the private sector, and then 9/11 happened, and all that changed. Holland immediately called his old command and spoke with some people about returning to help. He had a friend with the U.S. Army Special Operations in Somalia in 1993. He told him that the organization was already in the Middle East, and he would try out for that unit if he were him. He contacted them and went and tried out.
He attended the selection with 116 other candidates, and one month later, 16 of them remained. Holland was assigned to Fort Bragg and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in 2002.
He completed the 8-month Special Forces Qualification Course (Q Course) in 2005 and earned his Special Forces Tab and Green Beret. Kevin Holland deployed 20 times to the Middle East, conducting over 2000 combat missions. He was wounded with shrapnel in 2004 when an IED exploded behind his vehicle, killing one of his team members.
After completing A&S/OTC, MSG, Kevin Holland served as an assaulter with 1st SFOD-D for roughly ten years, retiring in 2013. Most men who make it to an SMU will stick with said SMU for most of their careers. In March 2011, Holland was shot during the mission.
Wounded in combat
In March 2011, he was unlucky. During the mission, they were watching a patrol of foreign fighters. All were well-armed and on a mission. They took a house from a villager, and that’s when they were launched. Holland’s team mission was to eliminate two individuals who had walked out into a palm grove behind the house. As they came in on helicopters, the individuals started shooting at them, so they returned fire with a grenade launcher, wounding one of them.
The other one ran deeper into the palm grove. The team landed, eliminated the wounded individual still shooting at them, and pursued the other. Holland was directed to the insurgents’ location. When he rounded the corner of the villagers’ house, the insurgent opened fire with a belt-fed PKM machine gun from 20 yards, hitting him in the chest just above his armor plate+, immediately paralyzing his left arm. Another round glanced off the weapon magazines on his chest, and another shot his radio in half, which was on his side.
Holland dove into an irrigation ditch as the individual kept firing his 200-round belt at him, hitting the pack he was wearing multiple times. He then started firing at Holland’s team, and when he realized he wasn’t being shot at anymore, he rose above the water, laying his weapon on its side on the mound of dirt in front of the ditch, and started shooting at the insurgent’s muzzle blast. Insurgent then came running at Holland as he was shooting at him. The insurgent was shot in the foot, so he fell nearly on top of Holland and hobbled out of the gate where he was captured.
After about 10 minutes, Kevin Holland got out of that ditch, found his team, patched up, walked out to the helicopter, and flew to the nearest base.
MSG Kevin Holland spent the whole time in rehabilitation until he retired from active military service in 2013. The doctors told him they did not have a lot of data on his wound because not many people survive being shot through the chest, so they don’t know a whole lot about how long it will take the nerves to come back if they come back. Among over 30 awards are seven Bronze Stars, two for valor in combat, and two for Purple Hearts.
The country was lucky to have had his service and courage.
That’s why we don’t fucking kneel for the anthem. This man has more grit, honor, loyalty, selfless service in his little toe than 99.9% of the American population.
They should kneel to him wherever he goes and be thankful that he and the countless other warriors protect them and their bullshit ways of life
What is the size of the wheelbarrow this man carries his balls in?
Legend.
RESPECT… To endure both BUD-S and SFOD- Q course is nothing short of pure dedication…
Kevin is a warrior but he is also a man of God and deep faith. He is LITTERALLY a unicorn. Many don’t understand he is a legend among legends.
Kevin, sir. Thank you for your service to our country, the United States of America. I don’t take my freedom for granted. It’s people like you and my father, a U. U. Army Vietnam vet, that protects us and our freedoms. I get caught up in stories of sacrifice and dedication like yours, but what is more impacting about your story, even a warrior like you, came to a point of humbling yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, and His saving grace. I am a former member of the Crips gang in Watts, California (L. A.), and I too had to bow down to Christ, of whom I am not ashamed. I’m proud to know that we’re brothers in Christ. God bless you and your family, sir. Until then! 👍😊 -Eric West
How do I contact Kevin about speaking at our church? We are in Missoula, Mt.
Pastor Bruce Speer, Crosspoint Church
406 5298377
Funny thing, we are now being ruled by people every bit as evil as Hitler or Saddam Hussein. Millions have taken a vaccine that is a proven poison and have already started dying. Many of those are military. Our rights are gone. If you believe in God the DC elites comsider you the enemy. Almost to a man they are serving Satanists. All these military honchos have no problem going to foreign lands and killing for our Satanic govt. But when the come home they would rather collect their pay and benefits and keep a low profile than stand up and confront evil here at home. I love how they all fall back on God. Funny, because the Bible specifically calls for you to confront evil. To allow evil to prosper means you are condoning it. Failure to stop evil means you as a Christian are a liar, plain and simple. Where are all these tough guy warriors? All i see is old people and truckers daring to speak out, let alone take a stand. Save me your back slapping i am a badass pose. Your country is going in the toilet and i see very little coming from those with the capability to do anything to stop it. Now you know where i stand. I hear i am not afraid to die as a Christian. Where were you as the churches were shut down with many that still are.
It’s a honor to hear your story. Thank you for your sacrifice for my freedom. SSgt Ken Vyvlecka USAF Honorably discharged.
Thank you for your service brother and welcome home.
Thank you for sharing your testimony as well as our country. May GOD continue to Bless you and your family.
“Brotherhood”
Back then I was so young. 9/11, left Bragg to train in Eastern Europe and a short rest in Germany. Assigned to 3rdID, Kuwait, Jan 03′, “Shock & Awe” Iraq, Mar 03′. Its a blur trying to remember the what, the where etc…I remember shortwave radios we’re not aware until we had already made it to the outside of Baghdad. Small arms were minimal until we hit Ramadi, BIAP and the Air base “Al Balad”. First experience of little tripod to launch mortars were in the beds of these little Toyoyta trucks. Within two months daily mortar attacks (still showering next teammates in between light Humvees. Sandbags lining the floors. Strapped across the hood against windshield, plywood inside door (vinyl doesn’t do much against rounds or shrapnel).
Contractors making 4-6 times more than I was making (E5/4+ yrs) gave us purpose. Protect the semi’s. No overwatch, QRF, Baghdad to Mosul or Fallujah. Sunni Triangle, or part of it?
Thank God for Stop-loss. 5 1/2 yrs still over there.
If you’re venting over good & evil then you have many chapters left to read mate! CNN, Fox News is gospel and that’s we watch it every Sunday morning in our class A’s!!
Honorably Discharged
Service Connected “Disabled”
3-5 months vacation to vurn and that’s when I get a peak behind the curtain.
Thanks Kevin, for all you have done in service for our great nation.
Thanks also to his parents who obviously were paramount in molding and shaping this great and honorable man.
“Don’t mourn men such as this when they die,be gratefull that men like this lived” -General George S Patton The man did more then his share for his country.
Kevin, I want to thank you for your testimony. I’m Retired Army and after work tonite I sat and heard your testimony. I didn’t pray alot either but tonight I prayed to the good Lord and thankful for all I have and for my family. I always remember the times I seen you special operators in Iraq and Kuwait and I have always held your teams service with the highest regard. God speed brother.
to charles smith and his remarks,
MR. SMITH YOUR A F’N COWARD
my best man was a former 160th SOAR CW4 deployed 12 times and conducted several hundred missions, as honorable and brave and was a true warrior and hero and you are a true coward Smith
What a machine able to do something at a very high level few can ever do ,then leave in good terms .Sign up with a different branch then operate again at the highest level again .
God bless Kevin Holland. Just listened to his story on Jack Carr’s podcast. A humble, elite American badass who has led an extraordinary life. Thank you for a lifetime of sacrifices sir.
Kevin Holland is a star that never goes out. God bless him and make more Kevin Hollands.
His life almost reads like a film script. I doubt the nation will ever see the likes of Kevin Holland again.
I had the opportunity to be with Kevin Holland for 3 days this past week. The most amazing individual I have ever had the honor to meet. Kevin is a man of God and it is obvious, his faith and love for people are the motivating factors in this man’s life. There are many operators serving our great country, they deserve our respect and prayers. Kevin Holland has risen to the top of this great team of warriors, I am honored and proud to call him friend, but more importantly, a brother in Christ.
Damn Legend, This man is what America is about I would love to have him on my podcast.
The Allen Steele Show it’s on You tube.
I try to help Veterans with PTSD and Suicidal thoughts. I am a combat veteran myself. Here is the link if anyone is interested
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